Jack Tame challenges Erica Stanford over Waitangi Tribunal report – watch on TVNZ+<\/a><\/p>\n Asked on Q+A this morning whether she knew the report was coming this week, Stanford said: \u201cI suspected it probably would.”<\/p>\n Interviewer Jack Tame asked why she thought that.<\/p>\n “Well, it\u2019s just interesting timing. It\u2019s all I\u2019ll say,” the party’s education spokesperson said, adding that “well, we’re a week out from an election. It is what it is.”<\/p>\n Asked whether she thought the tribunal had weaponised the timing, Stanford said: \u201cOh, look, I\u2019m not going to get into that.\u201d<\/p>\n She defended the priorities of the coalition. \u201cWhat I will not apologise for is raising M\u0101ori achievement, because that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Throughout the interview, the education spokesperson framed her argument as National\u2019s focus on \u201cvalue\u201d, accusing the previous Labour government of simply \u201cdoling out cash\u201d to schools without measuring money was well used.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Stanford \u2013 who is in a safe blue seat as an electorate MP \u2013 said she was confident about the election result for her party, based on National\u2019s own polling.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m really confident that we’re going to get there. When I look at the statistics in our own internal polling, I\u2019m very very confident,” she said. <\/p>\n “It means that you have to get out there and party vote National. Don\u2019t get cute about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking to RNZ on Thursday, Labour campaign chairperson Kieran McAnulty claimed Labour\u2019s internal numbers had the party in front.<\/p>\n Both major parties have leaned on their internal numbers despite the fact that the combined share of votes for the big two is at its lowest levels ever.<\/p>\n Stanford is one of National\u2019s most senior ministers in the coalition government \u2013 holding the education and immigration portfolios. Earlier in the year, she was heavily rumoured<\/a> to be a leadership contender against party leader Christopher Luxon \u2013 speculation she denied.<\/p>\n Arena Williams (left) and Erica Stanford (right) (Source: Q and A)<\/p>\n Williams zeroes in on excess profits<\/p>\n Meanwhile Labour’s commerce spokesperson Arena Williams \u2013 an increasingly high-profile opposition spokesperson \u2013 said the party\u2019s proposed anti-price gouging law could apply to Air New Zealand, because it has substantial market power.<\/p>\n![\"Arena](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/arena-williams-left-and-erica-stanford-right-YAFHE7N7KJACTKYUWUXDKPWCRI.png\")
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